Yarn drier and method of drying



T. S. RAMSDELL YARN DRIER AND METHOD OF DRYING Filed Aug. 29, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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T. s RAMSDELL YARN DRIER AND METHOD OF DRYING T. 5. RAMSDELL YARN DRIER AND METHOD OF DRYING Filed Aug. 29. 1923' 4 Sheets-Sheet &

J n, 13. 1925, u

' L;--H--- L a i'l 77 7 '2 M a I ull zj 4? i J m 5a 0 UNITED s'rArEsr THOMAS S. RAMs DELL, OF GREAT BARRINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

YARN DRIEIRAND METHOD OF DRYING.

Application filed August 29, 1923. Serial No. 659,919.

To all whom it may concern. effect on the yarn chain when being led from Be it known that I, THOMAS S. RAMsDELL, one steam drum to another.

a citizen of the United States, and resident An important feature of my present procof Great Barrington, in the county of Berkess and apparatus is that I combine as heatshire and State of Massachusettss, have ining and drying elements a fixed steam 60 vented an Improvement in Yarn Driers and heated member through which the yarn is Methods of Drying, of which the following fed, but without necessarily contacting description, in connection with the accomtherewith, although it may lie against a panying drawings, is a specification, like portion of the steam heated member, in

letters on the drawings representing like combination with an air current which is in 65 parts. direct contact with the yarn. Thus I secure -My present invention relates to a novel the benefits and advantages of a steam method of drying a cotton yarn chain, or heated drum, together with an air current equivalent device, and is directed to an imwhich latter positively carries away the proved type of apparatus enclosing the armoisture from the yarn chain. I believe TU ticle to be dried while it is fed continuously that this combination of a fixed indirect therethrough, thus utilizing a continuous heating and drying, togethen-with a posiand progressive drying method. tive air current, heated or not as desired,

In the handling of yarn, particularly cotand of any velocity, constituting a direct ton yarn, preparatory to winding the same, contacting and positive moisture removing 75 it is customary to form the yarn into a medium, is a distinct novelty in this art and chain, running the same th 'ough dying I wish to claim the same herein broadly. vats, sizing troughs or the like, and there- A further important feature of my presupon it is necessary to subject the'cotton ent invention consists in the fact that by yarn chain to a drying operation. Hereto' having the steam heating members fixed, I 80 fore it has been customary to lead or wind eliminate the escape of steam and waste this cotton chain about a series of steam thereof, incident to a rotating steam drum, drums, arranged in staggered relation and and this greatly reduces the power equired, which drums were rotated, acting as feedas the only driving elements requisite in my ing devices, and around which the cotton process and apparatus are suflicient power chain was rove, extending around the outto rotate one or more sheaves which will side of each drum, and thus being only parfeed the yarn chain itself through the drier. tially in heat. receiving or drying relation Still further important features consist to each drum. Various attempts have been in the fact that I provide means to supply 35 made to improve this steam drum type of a constant control of both the steam heating no drier, but such prior devices have not provelement and the air current. The simple en satisfactory in commercial use. It has valve arrangement, together with automatic further been attempted to effect a drying of outlet to remove condensed steam, controls such cotton chain by leading it through an the heat desired in the steam heating porenclosure either on a travelling apron or the tions of my apparatus, while a plurality of like, through which a blast of heated air fresh air inlets and outlets enable me to rewas drawn. i move the moisture laden air at any point or All these prior efforts, processes and appoints desired, supply fresh nonmoistureparatus, however, were very cumbersome, laden drying air currents wherever desired.

45 expensive, wasteful of heat, and unsatisfaoand thus I secure a desirable, complete and tory under many conditions, nor were they efficient control of the heating and drying efiicient in the heat units supplied to the elements. This control is most important, length of chain being treated. One of the as it is well known that wet yarn will reobjects of my present invention is to conceive a higher degree of drying heat without 50 serve the heat supplied toeffect the drying injury to the fibres than when the chain is action, to eliminate waste by radiation or practically dry. Therefore I provide means the like, and also to maintain the yarn beto supply a maximum of drying and moising treated under a substantially continuous ture ren'ioving air current as the wet yarn drying action, elin'iinating intermittent dr chain enters the drier, reducing or varying ing and cooling, such for example as is the the drying instrumentalities as desired, giving a tempered heat and current to the yarn during the last stages of its travel through the apparatus.

By means of my invention I am enabled to produce an extremely economical andefiicient drying apparatus,,capable of producing the desired drying effect on a yarn chain throughout a relatively short extent of its length and in a minimum amount of time required for the travel through the apparatus, conserving the heat. necessary, ehm-, inating waste, requiring-onlyslight amount of power for the drying operation, readily assembled, easily controlled and capable of great speed inits' drying effect, while it is practically automatic and continuous in ope 'at-ion.

In carrying outmyinvention I prefer touti'lize a conduit or, tube, and preferably a plurality of such tubes, linked together as units and arrangedin seriesor tiers, either vertically orhorizontally, preferably horizontally at a slight inclinationor angle to facilitate flow of the condensed steam therefrom, such conduits ortubes comprising an outer steel or iron tube,an inner brass, comfit position or other non-corrosive tube, through which latter the yarn is able packing joints at the ends thereof, so that the outer steam drum or jacket surrounds the non-corrosive tube througlrwhich the yarn is drawn. ThenI provide a current of air, preferablyheated or dry air, and

arranged either in a closed circuit or otherwise, and preferab-l with a plurality of exhaust or outlet openings to conduct moisture laden current'into theopen air, and with a plurality of inlets to conduct freshly heated for dried air into contact with the yarn, thus insuring'means to vary the drying action produced. on the yarn, together with'the air current which itself .constitutes a positive moisture removing agent. With this air current operating on the yarn,vwhile both are in the presence of a steam heated jacket, whiclrlatter can be covered with any desired heat insulating material, asbestos, magnesia or the like, it will be appreciated that I have developed a drier and a method of feeding and drying a cotton yarn chain orthe like bya continuous process, which will conserve the heat supply, will produce a very great and. yet a perfectly controlled drying action on the yarn and all during its continuous travel through the drier, permitting very great speed in its operation. I may supply as many sets, series or units of these jacket tubes as may be requisite for the speed of travel and time required for drying the yarn as it passes therethrough. Preferably I have sheaves or pul leys of non-corrosive material around which the yarn isled from one jacketed tube to the adjacent oneand all these are enclosed, so that the yarn is subjected to a continuous,

fed, and with suitprogressive, and uniform drying action, thus eliminating the difficulties involved in an intermittent. drying action as is obtained around rotating steam drums. Only the slight power required to draw the cotton yarn chain, over; the pulleys -or guiding sheaves is required to operate the entire ap pa-ratus. I

Various features and novel devices are utilizedyincluding means to insure a pre' determined conformation in the yarn chain,- preferablyhaving the same slightlyfiattened-by passing it through a yielding gate, guard, diaph 'agm, mechanism or the like be tween one or more, of the: guiding pulleys and thejacketed tubes, thus further facilitating and expediting the drying ac tion, spreading out the threads of the'chainv and preventing it from becoming matted andirolled, whilealso permittingthe chain to passinto and out of the inner tubular members through. which the air supply is maintained at a desired'pressure.

Other details,-novel features, advantages and combinations will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat-, ing a preferred embodiment of my apparatus and, by means of which my novel method-may bep-racticed,"

Fig. 1 "is a sid'e elevation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 isa vertical section onvt'he line of Fig.2; c

Fig, 4: is an end elevatioirtaken from the right of Fig. land 'with' certain p'arts removed for clearness of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation through the right hand end ofone of the drierv tubes, and

Fig 6 is an end elevation of'Fig. 5.

My improved apparatus includes, as necessary elementsfa plurality of pairs oftubes or chambers arranged in vertically arranged groups, and as all'the pairs of tubes employed are similar in constructioma deserip of such tubes will tion applied to one pair understanding of be sufli'cient for a clear the apparatus. therefore, 10 designatesjan inner heating chamber orvtube threaded at one end to screw into an internally threaded flange 11 and 'at the other end to thread into a Y-cous pling or elbow 12 and 011 the main portion ofthe Y"elb'ow 12 is screwed a nipple 13 which has threaded onto its other end a flange 14, this flange 14: being provided on its outer face with a cover 15 of resilient ma terial, thiscover being secured'to theflange 14 by a plurality of screws 1G and diametri-. cally arranged "in the cover '15 is a slit 17 and through whichthe article tobe dried is drawn, the a practically air tight joint to prevent cold air being drawn into the heating tube 1Q.

Referring to the drawings.

form of'the slit 17'insuring "be heated through the inner tube 10 is a tube 18 of considerably greater diameter than the tube 10 and the space between such tubes constitutes a heating chamber for heating fluid by means of which the interior of the tube 10 is heated and kept heated. The ends of the tube 18 are flanged, as shown at 19, and at the right hand end of the-tube is secured by means of bolts 20 and nuts 21 a stufting box 22 through which the inner tube extends, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and cooperating with the stuffing box 22 is a stuiiing nut 23, bolts'24 being utilized to draw the stuffing nut 23 into association with the stuffing box 22 and between the stuffing box 22 and stuffing nut 23 is placed the usual packing 25. Also between the flange 19 of the tube 18 and the stuffing box 22 it is desirable to place a gasket 26 to insurea tight joint. Considering atube 10 and a tube 18 assembled together in the manner above described as a'unit and referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that a pair of such units are arranged in a group, one above the other, and have Surrounding the their left hand ends secured to'fianges 27 formed integral with a hollow bolts 29 and nuts 30 being utilized to hold the casing and pipe units together. Arranged in the casing 28 is a horizontal shaft 31 011 which is rotatably mounted a grooved casing 28.

pulley 32 for a purpose to be hereinafter de-' scribed. On one of the faces of the casing 28.is arranged an opening 33 which may be utilized to assist in reeving the article to tubes 10 and such opening is provided with a pivotally mounted closure 48. The pairs ofitubes assembled as above described are arrangedin a plurality of vertical rows, as shown 'in Figs. 2 and 4, and are supported on a suitable framework (not shown) by means of cross bars 35 'and 36. Two forms of supporting bars are shown, the one, 35, rectangular'in cross section while the other, 36, is circular in cross section, and it is, of course, within the scope of the invention to utilize either or both of such forms.

As above arranged in vertical rows, I may take the lower tube 10 of the upper pair of tubes and the upper tube 10 of the next succeeding lower pair and enclose the flanges 14 with a casing37 and in this casing 37 retatably mount a horizontal shaft 38 and on such shaft within the casing 37 is secured a grooved pulley 39. This arrangement is continued with the lower tube 10 of one pair and the upper tube of the next'succeeding lower pair, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the end face of the casing 37 is arranged a sight or window 40 through which may be observed the interior of the casing and the article passing t-herethrough to determine whether or not the apparatus is functioning properly. Below the lower casing 37 and adjacent the lower tube 10 of the lower pair is arranged a rotatably mounted horizontal shaft 41 parallel to the shafts38 and on this shaft 41 is secured a grooved pulley Secured to the lowermost shaft 38 near one end thereof is a drive pulley 43 and by means of which power is transmitted to the shaft 38 from any suitable source of power. Also secured to the lowermost shaft 38 is a pulley 44 th'at is in vertical alinement with a corresponding pulley secured to the next higher shaft 38 and a belt 45 extends over the pulleys 44 to thereby transmit power from the lowermost shaft 38 to the shafts 38 located above.

The vertically arranged pairs of tubes or chambers 10 are arranged in pairs and any desired number of pairs may be utilized, the pairs being spaced apart from each other any suitable distance, as shown in Fig. 2, and between each pairis arranged at a point adjacent the right hand end of the tubes 10 a vertical manifold 49 tapped at various points along its length with pipes 50, these pipes in turn being tapped into the top of the enclosing tubes 18, as shown in Fig. 3, a valve 51 being arranged in each of the tubes and by means of which passage of heating fluid contained in the manifold 49 to the chamber formed by the tubes10 and 18 may be controlled. At the end of each of the tubes 18 remote from the point of en trance of the tubes 50 and on the lower side of such tubes 18 is arranged an exit pipe 52, each of which communicate with a vertically arranged pipe 53, each of which pipes 53 communicates at its lower end with a horizontal pipe 54 leading to a heating apparatus to be hereinafter described, the flow of spent heating fluid valve 55.

Located between the groups of pipes 10 and adjacent the manifold 49 is a manifold 56 which manifold is connected by pipes 57 with each of the upper inner tubes 10 of each of the pairs of vertically arranged pipes in each seriesthrough the Y elbows or couplings 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The lower end of this manifold 56 has connected thereto one end of a feed pipe 58, the other end of which being controlled by a vertical pairs of blower 59 that is mounted on a base 60. On the casing of the blower 59 is a bracket 61 in which are formed bearings 62 rotatably supporting a shaft 63 carrying the rotor (not shown) of the blower and on the shaft 63 is secured a drive pulley 64 and by means of which power may be supplied to rotate the shaft 63. Attached to the blower is an inlet casing 65 which is closed receptacle 66 in which is arranged a coil of pipe 67 the inlet end 68 of which is connected to a boiler or like heating plant while the outer end 69 thereof is connected to a drain or by any suitable sort of return to spectively "174, through 5 and 81 respectively the .boiler. The return pipe'fie to-which is connected the upright pipes '53 is connected to the outlet end 69 of the coil=of .pipe 167 and the spent heating fluid, such as steam, passing through thus be led to the drain above referred. to (but not shown) or return to theboiler; The end of/the closed receptacle. (56,is provided with an inlet pipe TO that is, in turn,

point intermediate connected to a pipe 71 at a in: said pipe 171 the ends of such pipe and and; on either side of the inletpipe-TO is arranged a butterfly valve 7 2 2111(11731'6SPBC- tively, the butterfly valve 72 being adjacen-tw the open endof such pipe 71.. The other end is connected to the lower end or fa vertically arranged manifold T 4,. that of saidipipe 71 is taperedat intervals alongits length to re-w ceive p pes 75 and 7 6 that communicate reof such tubes, by means of the Y elbows :12, both the pipes 7 5 and 7 6 being provided with controlling valves 7 7 and by means; of which the exit ofheating fluid from the lower inner tubes .10 to the outer atmosphere may be controlled. This arrangement provides a complete :circulatory'system from the heating apparatuslocated within the closed re- "ceptacle 66 throughthe pipe-58,. the manitold .56, through the upper inner tubes 10 of each pair of tubes, through .the lower inner tubes 10 of each pair ot tubes through-- thepipes 75 and 76, through the manifold- 7-1, and backto the the pipe heating apparatus within theclosed receptacle 66-by means of the inlet. 70, the butter-;

flyvalve .73 controlling .the flow of heating fluid. The. butterfly valve- 72 acts as an auxiliary cont-r01 means temperature of the a heating fluid with re lationnto. the heating apparatus 67 located within the closed receptacle 66;

Secured to the upper casing. 37 of each series and extending upwardly therefrom to a point above the slitll' in the member 15 is a rod 177, preferably section, or, if desired, a roller may be mounted on such rod and the purpose of thisrod willlbe apparent whenthe manner ofoperation of the apparatus is described; Arranged adjacent the shaft 41 ar d-parallel thereto. are shaftsTS and'79 onwhich are rotatably mounted the idler grooved-pulleys shafts 78 and 79,'but also parallel thereto, is arranged a shaft mounted a grooved idle'r pulley 83;.

The o-perationo t my improved apparatus? and whereby my imprgved inethodmay be practiced isv follows A cottonyarn chain:

or other, article it is article being indicated basket,-or other container, the cover as rothe pipes 53 and 5 lwinay with the lower ones of each of: the pairs of tubes-1O in'each vertical series:

'55 opened to allow tor regulating. the i the rods .17 7.. Dry circular in cross:

; chain 84)" will while above 1 such 82 onwhich is rotatab-ly desired .to dry, this bythe numeral 84,. is fed under the idler pulley 42 from a reel,

tated onits pivot pointto-uncover the holes 33 in thelsi es of the :casing 28' and a'fishingtool inserted therethro ugh to catch the s end of the ohain'EfS- which: is thus reeved 1 through the lower .innerrtuloe- 10 in. one of the vertical seriesuof tubes around and over? the pulley ,83, through the upper inner: tube 10 of the lo-wer pair, around, up-,-and over lower innertube'i the pulley; 39, through the" of the next higher pair,: and soon, finally led: out through upper pair of tubes; around. the ii'od' 17? associated with the upper :ca'siing'87 of this vertical series, aroundwthe rod 177 of the next or associated series and'then the operabeing the uppe'r'tube of the tion ofreevingithe :chain 64 through. the" tubes 10, as above described, is: reversed with respect to the associated vertical series, the end of V the :chain beingxb rought' out irom such lower tube around. and betweenthe idler-pulleys SO-and- 81, overthe idler pulley 83 to a suitable Windingdevice or receptacle. l i

Steam is turned into theheatiiig apparatus 67 containedwithinith-e olosed receptacle 1 66, the butterfiy valves 72'" and 73 properly.

to: control therflowof'lair,i theblower .59 started in operation, the valvessteanr to pass into the:

operated 51 opened to allow heating .chamber: between the inner and outer tubes 10 and-18 respectively,

live steamAthrough' power is applied-to the; pulley 43 by 'me'ans unison the variousi' driv'e chain 84: is thus drawn supply into the lower inner rom: the source of of the associatedr'series of tubes, over the idler. pulley'83 and intoa-co-ntainer or onto 7 a reel, asmay 'bedesired. The operator may lookthroughxthe window or sights l0 teas certain it the device is operating properly or this condition may be observed at the eX-* posed portion of the chain'84l passing over heated air passing-in a tubes 10' (and itstream through the inner content of this' heated airbeco-mes too-great, the opera-tor by controlling the valves 77 in the valves a: continual passage. of i the heat ng chambers;

tube10 of one I series of tubes-and'out tromithelower tube tor the belt associated therewith=to rotate in i ulleys 39 and'the 199 the pipes T 5 and 76,'m'ay discharge-a pore tion thereof into the outer atmosphere anda fresh supply of-air 'is admitted to the L closed receptacle 66by the proper operation of the butterflyvalifie-JQ and thevproper "deei' gree of moisture content -of the'heated air may be readily determined by the operator In addition to the after short'eXper'ie-nce.

chain Selbeing subjected to the dry heated air passing through the tubes 10, such tubes 10 are also maintained in a heated state by being surrounded with a volume of practi cally live steamand the degree of heat transmitted to the inner tubes 10 by such volume of live steam may be accurately determined by properly regulating the flow of steam from the manifold 49 to the outlet pipe 69.

.The slits 17 in the diaphragm'15 of flexible material, such as rubber, allow the free passage of the chain 84 therethrough in either direction while at the same time preventing undue escape of i heated air from such 7 tubes 10.

While I have necessarily shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention somewhat in detail, it is to be under stood that I may vary the size, shape, and arrangement of parts-comprising my invention within wide limits withoutfrom the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and de fined in the form of claims as follows:

1. The improved method of drying cotton yarn, which consists in jacketed heater, passing the yarn to be dried through said heaterand simultaneously subjecting the traveling yarn to a. drying air current. v 2. The improved process of drying cotton yarn chainsiand the like, which consists in feeding the same continuously through a series of heated members, heating said members free of contact of the heating medium with the yarn, and supplying a direct heating medium upon said yarn as it is fed through said heaters, and varying the drying effect on the yarn at predetermined points.

3. The improved process of drying cotton yarn chains and the like, which consists in feeding the same through a series of heated drums, controlling the heat supplied to said drums, and applying a drying air current directly to the yarn and varying said current in its velocity, heat or drying effect at predetermined points throughout the travel of the yarn chain through the drums.

at. The improved process of drying cotton yarn chains and the like, which consists in passing said chain continuously and progressively through successive series of drying enclosures, leading the chain over antifriction members to guide the same into said series of enclosures, supplying drying air under pressure through said successive series of enclosures, in direct contact with the chain, while keeping and maintaining the entire length of chain subjected to the drying action under a drying operation, while traveling over said guiding means to successive enclosures.

5. An improved drying apparatus, comprising a jacketed enclosure, means to sup departing utilizing a steam,

ply heat to said jacket, and means to supply drying air current through said jacket, in combination with means to feed an article to be dried through said jacketed member and in the air current.

6. An improved drying apparatus, comprising a plurality of jacketed enclosures, means to supply heat to said jackets, and means to supply drying air current through said plurality of jackets, in combination with means to feed an article to be dried through said plurality of acketed members and in the air current.

7. In an improved drying apparatus. the combination of a plurality of tubular jacketed chambers, heating means for said jacketed chambers, means for feeding ayarn Chain through each of said chambers, continuously, and means for forcing a continuous column of air through said drying chambers successively.

8. In an improved drying apparatus, the combination of a plurality of tubular jacketed chambers, heating means for said jack eted chambers, means for feeding a yarn chain through each of said chambers, continuously, and means for forcing a continuous column of air through said drying chambers successively, including means to vary the drying action of said air current at predetermined points.

In an improved drying apparatus, the combination of a plurality of series of jaclc eted drying tubular members, means to supply heat to said members, guiding means to conduct a yarn chain through said plurality of members, and means enclosing the yarn chain and said guiding means, whereby a current of air may be forced through said entire series of chambers following the line of travel of the yarn chain through said chambers and over said guides.

10. In an improved drying apparatus, means to feed a yarn chain therethrough, in combination-with yielding means at the entrance and exit of the yarn chain into and out of said apparatus, adapted to conform the cross-section of the yarn chain to substantially predetermined size.

11. In an improved drying apparatus, means to feed a yarn chain therethrough, in combination with yielding means at the entrance and exit of the yarn chain into and out of said apparatus, adapted to conform the yarn chain into relatively flat thin form. and to simultaneously maintain a partial air pressure Within said apparatus. during the continual feeding of the yarn into and out of said apparatus.

12. An improved drying apparatus, comprising a plurality of series of jacketed tubular members, means to supply a heating fluid to said jackets, means to guide, conduct and feed the yarn chain through each member of said series, and means under the prising a tube, a

control of the operator to vary the drying action upon the chain in any one of said members.

13. An improved drying apparatus comprising a pair of tubular members, a heating jacket surrounding said members, acasing secured to said membersv at one end thereof whereby a continuous passage is provided from one tube to the other, an inlet and an outletarranged in said tubes to guide heating fluid through said tubes from end to end, and a closure for the open ends of said tubes. a

1%. An improved drying apparatus comsaid openings, a closureforthe other ends of said tubes comprisingadiaphragm proylded with a perforation 1n almement With the axes of the tubes, feeding means with in the casing for feeding. a yarn chain through the first said tube and into the casing,.and feeding means located Without the casing for feeding the yarn chain from the casing through said second tube.

'15.-An improveddrying apparatus comprising a series of horizontal tubes in vertical arrangement and parallel [With each other, means for feeding a yarn chain through said tubesin a continuous line from top to, bottom ofthe series, a fluid heating device, pressure means associated therew th,

a conduit leading from said pressure means to the alternate tubes of the series, an inlet for said-heating. apparatus having its other end connected to the remaining tubes of the series, the pressure apparatus for the heated fluid and the ,feedingnmans for the-yarn chain being so arranged: relatively to each other and to the tubes of the series that' 'the heatedi fluid isforced through the tubes in a direction opposite to the traye'l of the yarn chain tl'ierethrough.

16. An, nnproveddrylng app,aratus,:com-

prising a plurality of jacketed tubes,,guiding means adjacent theencls of each-tube, means to lead a yarnchaln or the like over said guldes and through. sa d tubes successively, means enclosing, the line of path of the yarn chain, and a plurality of air inlets and outlets operable at. predetermined points throughout the line of traYel I of said yarn chain, and a blower tosupply, acurrent of air throughfthe apparatus, whereby moisture laden air may be deflected from;

any predetermined tube, and unladen .air supplied at predetermined points throughout the apparatus, d ring-the continuous operation of the'drier, whereby the drying action on the chain throughout itstraverse of the apparatus is controlled. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS s. RAMSDELL. 

